Size consistency control



Oct. 23, 19,51

Filled De. 4, 1947 J. G. KERSHAW ET AL 2,572,351 SIZE coNsIsTENcY CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct 23, 1951 J. G. KERSHAW ET A; 2,572,351

SIZE coNsIsTENcY CONTROL- Filed Deo. 4, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN GREEN /fERsH/aw Josrl/ Lf-qf @4H/175A Ot- 23, 1951 J. G. KERsHAw ETAL 2,572,351

SIZE CONSISTENCY CONTRQL Filed Dec. 4, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r i JOHN GREEN #ERS/mw JOSEPH 4LP/afa 2me/ER Patented Oct. 23, 1,951

UNITED STATES; PATENT ol-Ficiz SIZE CONSISTEN CY CONTROL Johnv Green Kershaw and Joseph Alfred Carrier,

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, assignors to Dominion Textile Company Limited, Montreal', Quebec, Canada, a. corporation of. Canada f Application December 4, 1947; Serial No. 789,595 In Canada; September 27, 1947 Introduction This invention relates to improvements: in .con-- trolling the consistency of sizepumped to the slasher size box.

Prim` art' Objects It is therefore an object of the present. invention to provide means for automatically maintaining within .certain predetermined limits the consistency of the size as it is fed to the slashen The invention The invention resides in the employment of an apparatus including three size vessels, the rst being the feed vessel from which size of a desired consistency is fed to the slasher size box. The second, or mixing vessel, is adapted for mixing size of the desired consistency tofeed the rst vessel, and the third vessel is adapted for preparing size of a heavier consistency than the other two which is fed to the. first vessel in order to replenish consistency losses in the size being pumped to the slashersize box.

Control means are provided which are respon,- sive to the consistency of the size vbeing pumped from the feed vessel to control the flow of size from thethird vessel to the feed vessel.

A preferred form of control means is vin the:

between the third vessel and vthe feed vessel..

The arcof the ow of size emitting from the nozzle Varies directlywith the consistency of the size being pumped, .thusmaking it .possibleto control the ilowof sizefrom the tliird to the firsty or feed vessel bythe adjustment of the pivotally mounted memberv in the stream off size emitting from the standpipe nozzle.

Another preferred form of control meansl cludes an open top vessel, having a V-d-rainal-'g'fe orice, whichvesselmaybe counterbalanced cna beamA in the are of the size emitting-from the noz zle of the standpipe; whereby iii-1ctuation-ci?r the arc of the size stream from the nozzle would deilect theV stream from thecpentop ci the vessel allowing it to empty and'- lighten. The .counter-A balanced beam mechanically orf-electrically con-1.

nected 'to` the control valve would-thus control.

the flow of hea-Vy sizeirom the thirdvessel tothe.. feed vessel.

As a further preferred means-for controlling.. thel flow of heavy size from the .tlliird- .vesseltol the feed vessel, adiaphragm responsive to back pressure maybe ins-tallied-A i-n the bleed line, the. control valve, in the line between the tliirdi` and rst vessels being operated by the uctuations.' of the diaphragm-caused by fric-tion factors of. the variousl consistencies of size passing throughd the lbleed line.

I DetaileddescriptifonV The novel construction, .adaptation and. cornbination of Darts are described in detailvvitlr.A

reference to the accompanymg drawings; wherein n Figure 2 4diagrarnmaticaf-lly illustrates inaside elevation one lmethod of mixingcontrol..

Figure 3 -isarr-endelevationof the. amuaratus,

illustrated in Figure-2.

Figures 4 and 5- illustrate .diagrammaticallly in4 end view .and side elevationan alternative. method of mixingccntrol?.

Figure -6 illustrates;.diagrammatically another method cit.controllingtlicmixingfflowr Referring `to the drawings; sizeiof -a desired` consistency is stored in storagev vessel lill; andis 'Y maintained atijarequired temperature by steam. entering fromA the-'pipe1ine...l.,..and agitation. by,

mechanical agitators 2:0.. The .size ot. vesselA lil- .,is adaptedv .to the pumped" throughv a circulating. i pipe I41byfa pump..|51andLeitltier'fedirrtcaieechl f ing vessel IBwrireturneditortheistorage'vesseli110..

The 'feed; into. the -vessel i116- `is-controlled ,by .a valve lll. ,inthe Afeedilziackdine-tothe;kettle lill.

- ligure` l illustrates: diagrammatically the. vessel layout, theslasher-size box, the piping throughE f .A back .pressure @valve I9 isdisposed The feed vessel I6, equipped with agitator 20 and steamline I2 is adapted by a circulating pipe 22 and pump 24 to feed size to a slasher size box 26 as required or back to the feed vessel I6. The level of size in the size box 26 is controlled by a valve 36, disposed in the pipeline 22, said valve being actuated by a level control 34. A back pressure valve 35 is disposed in the return position of the pipeline 22. The size in the size box 26 is maintained at a required temperature by a continuation of the steamline I2, and circulation of the size in the box 26 is maintained by a drawoi pipe 30 controlled by a valve 32.

The size, as it is cooked, is prepared to a predetermined desired consistency depending on the type of material to be sized, and for the best results in weaving the size in the slasher size box 26 should be maintained as closely as possible to this desired consistency. y

Variables are encountered which tend to vary the consistency of the size in the slasher box, such as, the live steam used to maintain the temperature level in the size box, and friction in the pipeline 22 conveying the size from the feeding vessel I6 to the size box 26.

In order to overcome the effect of the variables on the consistency of the size being fed to the size -box 26, a third kettle 38 is used to store size of a different consistency range, which is usually of heavier consistency due to the variables tending to lighten the consistency of the size in the feed vessel I6. The size stored in the vessel 38 is agitated by mechanical agitators 28 and maintained at a proper temperature by steamline I2. Size from this vessel 38 is circulated into pipeline 52 by pump 54 and is adapted to flow either into the feed vessel I6 or back into the vessel 38. The flow in the feed line 52 to vessel I6 is controlled by a valve 60, and a back pressure valve 6I is disposed in the return portion of the pipeline 52.

The applicant has devised simple and automatic means for operating the valve 60 to regulate the flow of (heavy) size from the vessel 38 into the feed vessel I6 to compensate for the variables and maintain the size being fed to the slasher size box within a desired range of consistency. Said means is actuated by the consistency of the size being pumped to the Slasher size box 26.

In order to measure the consistency of the size being pumped from the feeder vessel I6 to the slasher box. a bleed pipeline 40, controlled by a valve 4I, is connected to the pipeline 22 on the Slasher box side of the Slasher pump 24. This by-pass line 40 is connected to a standpipe 42 which has a substantially horizontally directed nozzle 44 of predetermined size, and the flow of size through the nozzle 44 is controlled by means of valves 4I and 43, which increase or decrease the ilow of size into the standpipe 42.

A pivotally mounted member 46 which by choice may be in the form of a paddle is adapted to actuate the opening and closing of a valve 60 which controls the flow of heavy size from the third vessel 38 to the first vessel I6. For electrical operation of the valve 60 the pivotally mounted member 46 is connected to a mercury switch 58 which operates a solenoid 56. Workably connected to the valve 60. The valve 60 may be operated mechanically from the pivotally mounted member 46 but by choice is illustrated and explained as an electrically operated mechanism.

As will be understood, the size being pumped ing to the consistency of the size the path or arc of the stream will vary. In other words, when the consistency of the size is normal or of the consistency desired in the slasher size box, the stream of size 45, issuing from the nozzle 44 will have a curve of less radius than thatof size of a lighter consistency, which would form a straighter arc. The blade of the paddle 46 is placed so that the stream of size of a, desired consistency will pass below the paddle 46 and fall into the feeding vessel i6, whereas the stream of size of a lighter consistency, forming a straighter arc, will contact the paddle causing the lever 48 to swivel on its pivotal mounting, tipping the mercury switch 50.

Connecting the aforementioned third vessel 38,

' which is charged with a size of a heavier conthrough the bleed line 40 and out of the standpipe nozzle 44 will form a stream 45 and accordsistency than the feeding vessel I6, is a pipeline 52 through which the size is pumped by the pump 54 into the feeding vessel I6. The mercury switch 58, which is connected to the paddle 46 by means of the lever member 48, is electrically connected to a solenoid 56 which by means of a lever connection 58 operates the control valve 60 situated in the pipeline 52.

In other words, a bleed line 40 ejects a stream of size 45, of the consistency being fed to the slasher box which, depending on the consistency of the stream 45, controls a feed line 52, from a source of heavier size, the additional size of' heavier consistency' equalizing the mix in vessel I6 by making up for the loss in consistency.

Alternative methods for measuring the consistency of the size devised by the inventors which are illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6 will be briey explained. Figures 4 and 5 diagrammatically illustrate the standpipe 42 and the orifce 44 as previously explained. An open top vessel 62 is pivotally mounted on a counterbalanced lever member 64 and placed in the path of the desired consistency stream of size 45, and the vessel 62 in its full state, counterbalances the lever 64. This lever 64 is connected to a mercury switch 56 by means of a rod 66. An opening 68 in the base of the vessel 62 allows the size to slowly drain from the vessel into the feed vessel I6. If the consistency of the size becomes lighter, the stream of size 45 is directed over the top of the vessel 62 against a shield 'Ill and returned to the feed vessel I6. As the size which is contained in the vessel is drained back into the feed vessel by means of the opening 68 the lightening of the vessel causes the mercury switch 56 to open the valve 66 in the feed line 52, causing size of a heavier consistency to be pumped into the feed kettle, thus as before, bringing the consistency of the size in the feed vessel I5 to the desired consistency. The rod 66 may also be mechanically adapted to operate the 'valve 60 without the use of electrical switches and solein the pipe line 40, and a casing 'I4 having a diaphragm 'I6 is attached to the T-tting,'12. The

flow of size along the line 4c is retarded by friction depending upon the consistency of the size being pumped. In the case of heavy size, of the desired consistency needed for the Slasher box,

being pumped through the line the friction". caused by the density of the size causes a back pressure to be placed on the lower face of the diaphragm 'i6 causing the rod 1B to be lifted. If the density of the size falls below the required density, the force caused by the friction is lessened, and therefore the back pressure against the diaphragm is lessened, causing the rod 18 and the diaphragm to be lowered. A mercury switch, leverly attached to the rod '13, is opened and closed by the movement of the rod and the electrical connections from the mercury switch, as before, causes the opening and closing of the valve 60 controlling the ow of heavier size from the third Vessel 38 into the feed vessel I6.

It will be understood that, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims, various modifications may be made in the specific expedients described. The latter are illustrative only and not offered in a restricting sense, it being desired that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as may be required by the state of the prior art.

The sub-titles used throughout the specifications are merely to simplify reference thereto and should otherwise be disregarded.

We claim:

1. In combination with a sizing apparatus having a slasher size box, a feeding vessel from which size is fed to the size box, a cooking vessel in which size of a desired consistency is prepared and fed to the feeding Vessel, a first passage from the feeding vessel to the slasher size box, a return passage from the Slasher size box to said feeding vessel, said lrst passage and said return passage constituting a feeding circuit, means for feeding' size through said circuit, a regulator means responsive to the consistency of the size in said feeding circuit said regulator means comprising,

a bleed line from said feeding circuit, a substantially horizontally directed nozzle connected to said bleed line adapted to project a stream of size from said bleed line, a pivotally mounted member positioned opposite said nozzle and responsive to fluctuations of the path of the size stream from said nozzle as varied by the consistency of the size passing through said feeding circuit.

2. An apparatus according to claim l, wherein said pivotally mounted member is positioned relative to said nozzle so as to be out of the path of said size stream when said size stream is between predetermined limits of consistency and in the path of said size stream when the size is outside of the predetermined limits of consistency.

3. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the pivotally mounted member is a paddle suspended vertically from the pivotal mounting and is within the position to be contacted by the stream of size when the size is light and out of position to said stream when the size is heavy.

JOHN GRELEN KERSHAW. JOSEPH ALFRED CARRIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,002,635 Bratkowski Sept. 5, 1911 1,178,193 Trimbey Apr. 4, 1916 1,181,726 Bishop May 2, 1916 1,944,243 Kegl Jan. 23, 1934 2,262,573 Bender Nov. 11, 1941 2,392,026 Cram Jan. 1, 1946 

